Versus is punching its way onto the mixed martial arts bandwagon.

The Comcast-owned cable channels said it formed a partnership with World Extreme Cagefighting. As part of the deal, Versus will televise World Extreme Cagefighting action starting this summer.

Spike already airs UFC mixed martial arts programming and MyNetworkTV and FSN this week reached an agreement to televise the International Fight League.

Initial plans call for Versus to air three live fights and six one-hour highlight shows.

“This is a partnership that will propel Versus and the WEC to the top of the mixed martial arts world,” Versus President Gavin Harvey said in a statement Friday. “With other full-contact, high-impact sports like the NHL and the [Professional Bull Riders] on the network, Versus is a place like none other for mixed martial arts. This genre fortifies the competitive core of the Versus brand-it’s in Versus’ blood to bring real, pure and raw sports to our viewers-and we intend to be an aggressive leader in this category.”

World Extreme Cagefighting is owned by Zuffa LLC.

(Editor: Gilbert)